Surviving in my Own Unpublished Failed Novel

'It's just a sub-quest...'

Anya Amasawa thought again inwardly as if a bulb of light appeared inside her mind as she came to a realization.

'It means there is a 'Main Quest'...'

Anya looked around towards the small-size camp situated at least 15 to 20 meters away from the oasis.

The behavior of the desert weather was unpredictable from the start. Sometimes the sand was abundant in the air, reducing the visibility to at least 4 to 5 meters, but sometimes it was crystal clear as if some kind of power swept the sand away.

During that time, they managed to set up a camp, thanks to the calm of the weather.

As it was only afternoon right now, a bonfire wasn't needed that might alert other monsters other than from what's within the oasis with a small lake with sapphire-colored water in the middle.

[Quest Duration: 6 hours, 42 minutes, 3 seconds]

It's been more than five hours since they scattered and explored the periphery of the oasis with caution. For some reason, there were scorpions on the periphery that appeared randomly which they got rid of, but it didn't alert whatever kind of monsters were hiding beneath those burrows circling the small lake.

They discovered resources such as cloaks that were specifically made for desert exploration inside some treasure chests that were dilapidated and might crumble with a slight touch.

"Anya, what's the plan??"

A blonde woman of noble blood asked. It was Celiya von Elydine who was also wearing a brownish hood that helped her against the sand, she was acting like a second-in-command, delivering the concerns of the company.

Anya pondered for a moment, looking at the Virtual System where the duration of the quest could be seen before she spoke.

"We'll set out in 40 minutes, prepare everything you can."

By everything they can, Anya referred to what they gathered, it included low-grade potions of various kinds such as the common necessities which were Health, Mana, and Stamina potions, but there were some rare, costly potions when it comes in real life which was called Durability Potion.

The purpose of Durability Potion was to repair slightly, mending the condition of weapons and armor because there were cases of equipment corrosion during the raid depending on the geographic information of the Dungeon that likely determined what kind of monsters were inhabiting it, especially when raiding a Dungeon Tower at Peak level which takes a month before the players could replenish their resources.

It was extremely detrimental for players, not to be able to repair their weapons or armor during Dungeon Raids. Thus, Durability Potions were invented by players with the Alchemist profession in general.

...

Before the forty minutes of preparation ended, Anya called Celiya and Erina who were chatting about some things of trivial matters as they organized what they collected, but a hint of joy was painted across their faces, perhaps finding the situation regarding the 'quest' as fun, as well as Arist, who organized some potions including the Durability Potion because as a 'tanker' that would lead the front, his weapons were prone to destruction, and Arash who just came back from exploring the surroundings due East, the opposite direction from their temporary camp and the target oasis.

"Before we proceed, is there any concern?"

Anya asked casually while looking at everyone with her ruby-colored eyes.

It caused the company to be momentarily dazed as if another being was looking at them.

After two or three seconds, Celiya spoke, asking again what she had asked earlier.

"Anya... hmm, about the plan?"

As if she expected such a question to be asked again, she said with a genuine curious tone.

"About that, if any of you have any idea, open your suggestions because it might be better than what I'm thinking, but first, Arash, have you detected any traps?"

As a Metal Archer, Arash wasn't lacking a trap detection skill, he spoke, wondering why Anya asked.

"No, there are no traps within the oasis itself."

"I see..."

After pausing for a second or two, Anya spoke casually, but her next words caused confusion among her group members as their eyes started darting around, looking at each other's eyes.

"That's good then. we should just barge in the front."

Anya was someone who didn't want to plan out complicated things if she grasped that the matter or difficulty was within a reasonable degree, but for others, especially for a student like Celiya, who was not a pure battle-type player despite being a Battle Mage, and like to plan things to increase the chance of success, she found Anya's words as confusing, but for some reason, she also felt that it was alright to do just that.

'...I thought you were thinking earlier about different kinds of plans when you were so quiet in the corner.'

Celiya lampooned inwardly before she looked at Arist Stallion, she then spoke the crux of the plan of just barging in.

"Arist, how about it?"

Celiya asked him, prompting the company to look at him. It was because he was a 'tanker' that barging in front was something he needed to agree with before proceeding.

"Alright, let's do this!"

He said energetically as he held the top of his shield with his hands as it touched the sand on the ground.

'As if we have a choice...'

Celiya sighed inwardly as she thought that even if Anya asked for their suggestions, it was highly unlikely someone would go against what she said.

...

After walking for a minute, Anya and her group members arrived at what seemed to be the only entrance of the oasis, it spanned at least three meters.

The oasis has a single erected wall, circling the entire place, spanning 50 meters, but the wall's height was just four or five meters, which made a player able to jump on it.

The trees beside the circular wall were taller which helped Arash in scouting the area, thus gaining general information inside.

Arist Stallion, a tanker of some kind stepped in front of the company he then unleashed a taunting skill.

[Activating Skill: Howl of Provocation (Lvl. 1)]

Upon skill activation, Arist's back seemed to contain an illusory image of a lion. Its howl reverberated in the entire oasis.

This skill was highly effective with monsters of low Tenacity and Willpower stat.

Monsters around 30 meters would lose their reason for 10 seconds with the duration increased per level, and attack the player who cast the skill as if they were blind, not minding the surroundings. It could be heard by other monsters outside the effective range, but it would cause them to stagger, making them late in response.

~ Rumble-!

The entire oasis quake, prompting everyone to take a defensive stance.

[You have disturbed the 'Slumber' of the Gemless-Tailed Scorpion Guard]

This Virtual System message appeared in everyone's sight.

Soon, numerous scorpions leaped out of those burrows that didn't match their size, causing the ground of sand to erupt, scattering in the air which reduced Anya and company's visibility slightly, but it caused their sight to be blocked, alerting them more of possible sudden attacks.

Then, after five seconds, the sand that blocked their sight was swept away by the wind causing the women's hair to flutter, then it restored their sight, allowing them to see what kind of monsters they were facing at the moment.

These brownish scorpions were at least three to four meters in height and five meters in length including the pincers' length that were twice the size of the arm of an average human.

They were a bit bigger than scorpions roaming the periphery of the oasis, and one of the noticeable differences was that these scorpions didn't have gems at the end of their 'tails' unlike the Topaz-Tailed, Sapphire-Tailed, Ruby-Tailed, and other kinds of them that Anya's group encountered.

There were also some beetles of considerable size that have bodies that were colored like the sand, attached to the Gemless-Tailed Scorpion Guards pincers, presumably the 'Sand Beetles'.

Their conditions were critical while some were already dead.

'Based on the quest details, we can mount them, I think they are friendly creatures... enemies of these scorpions.'

Anya made a simple, but accurate deduction.

The others probably thought the same, seeing the sight in front of them.

Without waiting for their fellow scorpions to leave the burrows, some of them already lunged at Arist because of the Howl Provocation effect.

But before the first scorpion reached his Metallic Shield, a Sickle with contorted lines attached to a chain cut the scorpion in half.

[You have killed a Gemless-Tailed Scorpion Guard]

Numerous scorpions lunged at Arist, but it was quickly fended off by Anya and company.

Arash Hood shot out heavy metallic arrows, different from the magic arrow he used earlier in poking a burrow, pinching some scorpions on the ground as they were hit in their abdomens.

Scorpion Guards that were still breathing after that were finished off by Celiya who used long-range attacks such as the Skill: Light Blast (D).

A ball of light would be formed upon skill activation, firing out of her White Staff with a Blue Crystal Ball and peculiar White Feathers resembling a pair of wings together.

The ball of light explodes upon contact and burns the target monster.

The group formation of Anya's group was excellent, especially because of the sturdy tanker in the front.

...

With Anya taking care of the scorpions punching the metallic shield of Arist, and Arash, shooting the approaching others.

"Erina!"

Celiya called out to her younger sister.

And as if Erina understood what her older sister meant...

[Activating Skill: Hands of Thread]

With skill activation, two Illusory hands appeared on each hand of Erina, releasing their own threads on each finger, and binding the rushing scorpions from afar.

Having a profession of Weaver Master, her skills were focused on thread manipulation.

It was best for crowd control, but she also possessed attack skills that supplement her crowd control skills.

"Older sister!!"

Due to the sound of continuous rumbling, even though they were at most, two meters apart from each other, Erina shouted as a cue for her older sister's next action.

During this moment, Erina controlled her hands, as well as the four Illusory hands, making the tied Gemless-Tailed Scorpion Guards clump together.

"Alright..."

Celiya muttered before she cast a skill exclusive for a Battle Mage.

[Activating Skill: Whirl of Feathers]

A slightly big magic circle appeared atop the clump of scorpions, producing white feathers that spun around them.

Soon, these scorpions were swept inside the whirl of feathers, cutting them to pieces!

Then, with Erina's Hands of Thread, these pieces were thrown in the small lake in the middle!

With the assumption they talked about earlier during the engagement of Arist using Howl of Provocation, Anya and Celiya surmised something about the small lake.

~ Thud-!

At this moment, the Scorpions Guards that came out from burrows were almost eliminated with at least ten remaining, rushing to Anya's group as they survived the Whirl of Feathers from the sidelines.

~ Rumble-!!

The small lake shook, but this didn't stop the remaining approaching Scorpion Guards without a gem in their tails, at the same time, the Virtual System notified each of them of the same message.

[The Gemless-Tailed Scorpion Warden has been awakened!]

Without any further warning, a ten-meter in height gigantic scorpion jumped off the small lake, then its water spread in the air as if rain has occurred.

~ Bang-!

One of its pincers punched Arist Stallion's Metallic Shield, causing the ground of sand to seemingly explode.

It was as if a shotgun was shot in close proximity from above, causing his feet to lower leg to be buried in the ground!

With the impact, Anya, Celiya, Erina, and Arash who were a meter or two away from Arist's spot were sent flying with the unexpected attack.

~ Argh!

They heard their own groans, but immediately snapped off their stupor as they remembered Arist who took a massive hit even with the Metallic Shield!

As soon as they stood up to go to Arist's side, they heard a loud shriek within the smoke of sand!

~ Shrieeeekkk-!

~ Bang-!

~ Shing-!

~ Shrieeeekkk-!

~ Thud-!

~ Thud-!

With a loud thud, silence prevailed across the oasis.

It was just a minute or two that had passed, then the smoke of sand dissipated.

Celiya, Erina, Arash, and Arist whose feet and lower leg were buried in the ground saw Anya standing atop a dead gigantic scorpion with a streak of red blood smeared on a side of her face, probably from the unexpected impact of the gigantic scorpion.

Although they were initially caught off guard, based on the impact they received, they knew that taking care of the Scorpion Warden was within their capabilities. What they saw just now left them dazed, but with feelings of admiration.

Then Anya, who was in a moment of stupor, looked down from where she was standing, seeing her group members, as she held the two Sickles on both ends with her hands before saying...

"Let's clean up."

As she said that, they heard a stomping sound from afar, approaching their direction.

With a glance, they confirmed the identity of the source of those stomps, followed by a notification that entered their ears.

"Sand Beetles..."

...

At Leon's group side.

~ Hahh... Hahh...

Leon, Tyrion, and the other group members slumped down on the ground, gasping for air.

'F*ck!'

Leon cursed inwardly as one of his group members died while the others has a mutilated leg or arm being healed at this moment.

He then looked at the pile of dead bodies of bizarre-looking scorpions.

They just finished killing the Scorpion Warden, then they saw numerous cages with scorpions, but without gems attached at the end of their tails.

As they freed the scorpions named Gemless-Tailed Scorpions without the word 'Guard' attached to them, a notification resounded in their ears.

[Group Notification

Quest Title: War of the Species

Type: Main Quest

Description:

With the Gem-Species Scorpions running rampant across the desert, it caused them to be cautious and started hiding as the Luminous Scorpion, King of the desert ordered his men to capture the other species to be made slaves!

Due to this, the Gemless-Tailed Scorpions had no choice but to secure food by killing the Sand Beetles.

Clear Conditions:

Aid the Gemless-Tailed Scorpions against the Sand Beetles from the West!

Rewards:

Data Copy of the Virtual Battleground, 'Desert of the Luminous Scorpion.'

Failure: Accumulated points will be reduced to 0.

Duration: 12 hours

Virtual System's Note: There is another way to clear this quest!]